EPA TRI Facility · Food

Cargill

Columbus, NE · Parent: Cargill Inc

Total releases
88.5K lbs
Chemicals reported
3
Latest report
2023
Primary pathway
Off-site Transfers
Verify at EPA TRI →

Cargill has reported 88.5K lbs of toxic releases across 3 chemicals to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, based on annual facility disclosures from 2019 through 2023. The facility operates in the Food sector. The primary release pathway is off-site transfers, accounting for 89% of total releases. All release data shown below is self-reported to the EPA under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313.

#4,852 of 25,902 TRI facilities nationwide by total reported releases. Ranking reflects reported pounds, not toxicity or health risk.

Cargill files annual Form R disclosures to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory under EPCRA Section 313, classified under NAICS 311611 (Food). Across 5 years of records spanning 2019–2023, the site has disclosed 88.5K lbs in cumulative toxic releases across 3 distinct chemicals.

The dominant release pathway is off-site transfers at 78.4K lbs (88.6% of total volume), followed by air releases at 11.4%. Between 2019 and 2023, reported totals decreased by 93% - from 61.1K lbs to 4.1K lbs. The facility is operated under parent company Cargill Inc.

TRI Form R values are self-reported estimates, not measured stack emissions, and treat every pound of reported chemical equally regardless of toxicity. Inclusion in the TRI database does not establish a health risk to nearby residents; it documents the annual reporting record that Cargill has filed with the EPA under federal community right-to-know requirements.

Quick Facts

Industry
Food
NAICS Code
311611
Total Releases
88.5K lbs
Chemicals Reported
3
Latest Report Year
2023

Compare this facility

See how Cargill stacks up against nearby facilities and the typical reporter.

Total reported releases
Cargill
88.5K lbs
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc
11.5M lbs

99% less than the comparison

Chemicals reported
Cargill
3
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc
8

63% less than the comparison

Comparison reflects reported pounds and chemical counts, not toxicity or health risk. Averages cover facilities reporting any release.

How does this facility release toxic chemicals?

How Cargill releases toxic chemicals into the environment. Total: 88.5K lbs.

Off-site Transfers 78.4K lbs (88.6%)
Air Releases 10.1K lbs (11.4%)
View 5-Year Emissions Trend →

Emissions Trend Summary

From 2019 to 2023, total releases decreased by 93% (61.1K lbs to 4.1K lbs).

Reported total releases by year

Cargill - annual TRI totals

million lbs

What this shows Year-over-year reported totals. TRI figures are self-reported estimates and can swing with production levels, waste-rock handling and reporting changes, not only with emissions controls.

Source EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
Year Total Chemicals
2019 61.1K lbs 2
2020 4.6K lbs 2
2021 4.2K lbs 2
2022 14.5K lbs 3
2023 4.1K lbs 2

Chemical Releases

Aggregated across all reporting years (2019–2023). Sorted by total release volume.

Chemical Total Flags
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution) 78.4K lbs -
Ammonia 10.1K lbs -
Nitric acid 0 lbs -

Location

Coordinates
41.4383, -97.3082
ZIP Code
68601
EPA Facility ID
6860WCRGLL1529B

About TRI Data

Data as of 2023 reporting year. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory.

Data comes from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. Facilities that manufacture, process, or otherwise use listed toxic chemicals above threshold amounts are required to report annually to the EPA.

Release quantities are self-reported by the facility and may represent estimates rather than exact measurements. "Total releases" includes releases to air, water, land, and off-site transfers for disposal. Quantities shown here are aggregated across all available reporting years.

PlainEnviro presents this data without advocacy framing. The presence of a facility in the TRI database does not by itself indicate a health risk. For site-specific health questions, consult your local environmental or health agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chemicals does Cargill release?
Cargill has reported releases of 3 chemicals to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, totaling 88.5K lbs.
What industry is Cargill in?
Cargill is classified under the "Food" industry (NAICS code 311611), located in Columbus, NE.
How long has Cargill reported to the TRI?
Cargill has EPA Toxic Release Inventory data spanning 5 years, from 2019 to 2023.
How does Cargill release toxic chemicals?
The primary release pathway for Cargill is off-site transfers, accounting for 88.6% of total releases (78.4K lbs). Secondary pathway: air releases (11.4%).
Are emissions from Cargill increasing or decreasing?
From 2019 to 2023, total releases decreased by 93%, from 61.1K lbs to 4.1K lbs.
Is Cargill a health risk?
The presence of a facility in the TRI database does not by itself indicate a health risk. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. For site-specific health questions, consult your local environmental or health agency.

What to do with this facility's data

Use this facility profile as a starting point, then check how it compares.

  • See whether releases reported by Cargill are rising or falling over time. View trends
  • This facility ranks #4,852 of 25,902 TRI facilities nationwide by total reported releases. Ranking reflects reported pounds, not toxicity or health risk. See the full rankings
  • Check Nebraska's statewide profile for the full picture: total facilities, water systems, and Superfund sites. View Nebraska profile

TRI release totals are self-reported estimates submitted to the EPA, not independently measured stack emissions; a high rank reflects reported volume, not necessarily local health risk.

Related

Sources & how this page was built

Every figure on this page traces to public, federal-government data on Cargill. The records below are the primary sources; our methodology explains how they are joined, computed, and verified.

Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro Editorial. TRI release totals are self-reported estimates, not measured stack emissions.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Toxics Release Inventory has required annual industrial disclosure since its creation under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act in October 1986, and this facility's record is drawn from PlainEnviro's database of more than 25,000 EPA-tracked facilities through the 2023 reporting year; see our methodology for full source citations and refresh cadence.